Glad to be home.

Just got back to the Muqata after a week in the US on business. You can only imagine what sort of business we in the Muqata have to take care of, but that's another story.

1. In Al-Funduq this evening, 3 Jews were injured by (Arab) rocks thrown at their car, smashing the windshield of their car. One was transported to the hospital and is in fair condition.

2. Sharon spoke in the UN today. I'm surprised he spoke in Hebrew (which I grudgingly have to give him credit), yet his speech was an election speech to the Likud. Some say that's the reason he spoke in Hebrew in the first place. He spoke about that the Land of Israel is exclusively that of the Jewish people, and no other. Too bad he never said that back here at home. Instead he used words like "occupation" instead of "historical right of the Jewish people." I'm not impressed - it was very cynical.

3. Spoke to Joesettler this evening. He said I sound very angry on this blog. Could be. Its unfortunate I have to write from the Muqata, but Israel's police aren't very liberal when it comes to freedom of expression. (unless of course, you're a leftist).

4. Lots of Hashgacha pratit. I needed to raise money for a family of Gush Katif refugees. By the way, none of them have received anything financially so far (like the 50,000 NIS "advance" payment on their compensation - none of that has arrived). Yesterday in shul on my way home, I mentioned this to someone, and before I left, he gave me a rather large sum of tzedaka which will be very useful for the refugees. In fact, it made my entire business trip to Chutz Laaretz seem worthwhile.

Lastly: I have been thinking about this alot lately, and read about it elswhere on the web the other day. Picture the following; a huge tsunami crashes into the Gaza Strip. When the water receedes, there's nothing left there. No people, no buildings, no rubble. Just empty plains of sand...waiting for the Jews to rebuild it. It would explain many things (including why we had to remove the cemetaries from Gaza). It would explain why all the prayers were answered with a "no." I have a feeling that the events of the past months will become obvious and clear to us (as did the story of megliat esther) in the coming months.

Shabbat Shalom from the Muqata.